There are several types of cutting tools, or shears, used for gardening. Each shear has a different purpose and is best used for the purpose for which it was designed. Lopping shears have long handles and a hook-like head. These shears are used to remove branches, vines, and roots that are too large for pruning shears or are slightly out of the gardener’s reach.

One of the key design elements of lopping shears is the handle length. This is one of the main factors that separates loppers from other types of gardening shears. The standard handle length of garden lopping shears is about 13 inches (33 cm), but handle length can range from 9 inches (22.9 cm) to 21 inches (53.3 cm). These long handles allow the gardener to cut branches that are farther away, reducing the need to climb or stretch to reach a branch.

Lopping shear handles are typically made from either carbon-fiber or aluminum so that they are light weight and strong. Both types work equally well; however, aluminum handled garden loppers are typically cheaper than those with carbon-fiber handles. Handles are usually covered by plastic shock absorbing grips to help protect the gardener from joint injuries while gardening.

Anvil loppers have the disadvantage of tending to crush rather than cut, sometimes leaving an untidy wound, more vulnerable to infection. Their main advantages are of relative strength and of being less likely to jam with fibrous material. Very hard or resilient branches can sometimes deflect a bypass lopper so that material either binds between the blades or even levers them apart, which can be dangerous both to the tool and the operator.